Yesterday, Real Goods announced its fourth acquisition in less than 12months. It merged with a small private company named Regrid Power for less than $15 million, spending about one-third the purchaseprice in cash and the rest in stock. There’s also an earn-outprovision, but no details were given.

In the announcement, Real Goods noted that Regrid’s founder and CEO,Tom McCalmont, will become the Real Goods CEO within the next twomonths. The founder and current CEO of Real Goods, John Shaeffer, willbecome President. Now it’s not unheard of for one company to buyanother in order to capture management or technical talent. But in thiscase, swapping the CEO of one small company for another doesn’t seemlike a particularly innovative move. If Real Goods wants to grow, itshould probably have gone after a bigger fish. There will be plentyavailable real soon now.

Gaiam Inc. (NASDAQ: GAIA) is the parent which spun Real Goods Solar outas a new company.  Its shares are also a back off of the 52-week lowsand shares are down considerably more than their high.

Gaiam is a lifestyle company promoting its media and apparel for yogaand other healthy lifestyle choices.  Its customers are more likely tobe interested in solar power than many other customers, but this was astrange combination from the start.

Paul Ausick
October 16, 2008

American International Group (NYSE: AIG) was down almost 2% at $38.20 late in the day.  Some funding deals in the billions just aren’t that well received.  This had managed to get just back above the low part of the range of $38.15 to $72.96.

Gaiam Inc. (NASDAQ: GAIA) was down 4% at $14.59 late in the day, which was slightly above the prior 52-week low; range of $14.49 to $30.73.  Not all green lifestyle media stocks are created equally; better get the spin-off soon.

Hansen Natural (NASDAQ: HANS) was down almost another 2% late in the day at $28.00, prior low was $28.20 and high was $68.40.

Loral Space (NASDAQ: LORL) was down over 9% at $19.90 late in the day, prior range was $20.04 to $51.56.  This isn’t regularly on the wall of shame, but the company posted a wider loss Monday.

Playboy (NYSE: PLA) better get the Heff’s doing something.  This one keeps getting worse and shares were at $5.58 late in the day; under the $5.84 to $12.00 range.  How much is that L.A. mansion worth?

Royal Caribbean (NYSE: RCL) was down 6% at $29.31 late in the day; prior range was $30.04 to $45.17.  So much for borrowing against the house to take a cruise.  At least the people can choose who they have dinner with now.

Secure Computing (NASDAQ: SCUR) was down 4% at $4.94 late in the day, not so secure it sounds like.  Prior range $5.05 to $10.54.

Jon C. Ogg
May 20, 2008